Helicopter Capabilities/Operations Flashcards
Helicopters operations are:
- Tactical movements of Marines, weapons, and material by helicopters to support the ground tactical plan.
- Deliberate, precisely planned and vigorously executed combat operations designed to allow friendly forces to strike over extended distances and terrain barriers to attack when and where the EN is most vulnerable.
- Conducted with maximum speed, flexibility, and timeliness.
What must be considered when planning helo operations?
The capabilities, limitations, and vulnerabilities of heliborne operations.
Helicopterborne operations capabilities allow Marines to:
- attack enemy positions from any direction
- overfly or bypass barriers and obstacles and strike objectives in otherwise inaccessible areas
- conduct deep attacks and raids beyond the forward line of our own troops
- rapidly concentrate, disperse, or redeploy to extend the area of influence
- provide responsive reserves allowing commanders to commit a larger portion of their forces to action
- conduct fast paced operations over extended distances
- rapidly reinforce committed units
- conduct nigh terrain flight with the use of night vision devices, which allows them to locate a landing zone and without illumination
Helicopterborne operation limitations are
- severe weather, extreme heat and cold, and other environmental conditions such as blowing snow and sand that limit flight operations, helicopter lift capability, or flight visibility
- Reliance on airborne communication
- reduce ground mobility once inserted
- limited accessibility to supporting arms, especially indirect fires
- increased logistical considerations (fuel, maintenance, spare parts, facilities, and AC availability)
What are the vulnerabilities of the helicopterborne force?
- attack by enemy air defense weapons systems during the movement phase
- attack by NBC systems, because off limited NBC protection and decontamination.
- attacks (ground, air, artillery) during the loading and unloading phases
- electronic warfare (jamming), due to the heavy reliance on radio communications for communications for command and control.
Five stages of planning
Ground Tactical Plan Landing Plan Air movement Plan Loading Plan Staging Plan
Helicopterborne Operations Key Personnel
Mission Commander Air Mission Commander (AMC) Helicopter Unit Commander (HUC) Assault Support Flight Leader (AFL) Escort Flight Leader (EFL)
Mission commander’s role is ?
his presence and role ensures a unity of command throughout the operaton. He must determine where he can maintain comm with his subordinate commanders.
AMC is responsible for:
- planning and executing all aviation functions relative to the assigned helicopterborne mission
- establishing liaison with the helicopterborne HUC (the commander responsible for the ground tactical plan) to conduct concurrent and parallel planning.
HUC is what?
The ground officer who has been designated commander of the helicopterborne force and is charged with the execution and accomplishment of the ground tactical plan.
The Assault Support Flight Leader (AFL) is what?
an experienced aviator in command of the assault support flight.
Escort Flight Leader is?
an experienced aviator in command of the escort (attack) flight and reports to the AMC. He also assists in the planning of LZ preparation.
Explain L-Hour.
is the time when the first helicopter in the first lift is touch down in the LZ.
CH-46E DIMENSIONS
AIRSPEED: endurance:70 KIAS max range:110 to 130 KIAS max airspeed 145 KIAS ENDURANCE: payloads- 4300 lbs / 18 PAX Endurance- 2+55 hours WEPONS SYSTEMS: 2 x .50 cal XM218
CH-53D DIMENSIONS
AIRSPEED: max endurance: 70 KIAS max airspeed: 130 KIAS ENDURANCE: payloads- 8000 lbs / 37 PAX Endurance - 5 + 30 hrs WEAPONS: 2x XM218 .50 cal, 1x M-3M .50 cal ramp gun(opt)
